with the swallow

masked moon cloud aloud with heavy rain
cling to bough droop currants vine
the train cumbersome-
trunks of bending birch quench their thirst in puddled dirt decay
sweet root, bearded bark shade shadow glade in shallow dark
to hear a lark
giddy in his yelp
a cry for help
mellow memory of the swelter
give me shelter
oh how he weeps
to see the dove mourning
an irreconcilable peace
the cost of knowing
tomorrow
an hour
in the life of an owl
lucky to find field mice,
sleep in a barn
with the swallow.